Online Reporter
A Cape Town family in South Africa has sent shockwaves through their communities after it was revealed they were selling their 11-year-old daughter for a measly R100.
A video of a resident in the Masincedane Informal Settlement in Strandfontein appealing for assistance for the young girl has since gone viral on social media platforms.
IOL has seen the video and will not be sharing to protect the identity of the minor girl.
In the video, the resident explains that the 11-year-old girl is being sold for sex by her parents. He explained he had approached the father about this and claimed the father stated the girl should work for the household as he had no money.
This has caused an outcry after word spread about the incident. A resident from outside the informal settlement told IOL that once he entered the informal settlement, people allegedly said the father said it’s fine let her sell herself.
“This child is being sold for R100.”
The video, which soon reached the Strandfontein Community Policing Forum (CPF), resulted in action and arrests. Speaking to IOL, Strandfontein CPF chairperson Sandy Schuter explained that fighting for the most vulnerable in her community was a non-negotiable.
“When this recent, devastating case was brought to my attention, I refused to let go until everyone involved was arrested before the sunset. Justice for our children is non-negotiable, and swift action is the only acceptable standard. Crimes committed against our children do not just injure an individual; they strike at the very heart and soul of our community,” Schuter said.
She said these atrocities shatter the safe environments that every child deserves, replacing innocence and security with fear and trauma.
“Every offense against a child is a profound indictment of our society, threatening our future and leaving a collective scar on the resilience of the entire community. We cannot afford to look away, nor can we wait for tragedy to strike before we mobilise.
We have a responsibility to act: parents, residents, community leaders, and our social services and safety agencies alike,” Schuter said.
She said protecting children requires constant vigilance, zero tolerance for perpetrators, and a united front that says enough is enough.
“The Strandfontein CPF remains fully committed to standing watch and fighting tirelessly for the safety and justice our children deserve,” Schuter said.
The parents were both arrested; however, the child’s mother was released. The man who is believed to have ‘bought’ the young girl was also arrested.
The provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, confirmed the arrests.
“In response to your media enquiry, kindly be advised that the mentioned case is a rape and sexual exploitation case involving an 11-year-old girl. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation,” Twigg said.
The suspects have since appeared in the Mitchells Plain Magistrate’s Court. “We can confirm that two suspects aged 20 and 47 appeared in the Mitchell’s Plain Magistrates’ Court today, August 11, 2026, where they were remanded in custody for a formal bail application,” Twigg said.
The suspects are expected to apply for bail on Monday. “We will be opposing bail. As the Strandfontein CPF, we want to make it unequivocally clear that we will ensure that no stone is left unturned in any matter regarding our most vulnerable, especially our children,” Schuter said.. – IOL
